I Love You, I Love You (I Will Never Let You Go) / Confession Blues

“Seattle is the town where I made my first record. And if you ever want to say where I got my start, you have to say that.” - Ray Charles (1930-2004)

This single from The Maxin Trio is the first record made by Ray Charles, who wrote, played piano, and sang for both tracks. The single was released in 1949 with Down Beat Records, and the B Side track “Confession Blues” was on Billboard’s top R&B records that same year.

The Maxin Trio formed in 1948 around guitarist Garcia McKee (1920-2012), pianist and vocalist Ray Charles (1930-2004), and bassist Milton Garred (b. unknown), the same year that Charles arrived in Seattle, Washington from Florida. The band played regularly at the Rocking Chair, a local Jazz room, which was where they met record producer Jack Lauderdale (b. unknown), founder of Down Beat Records. Lauderdale convinced them to record some music with Down Beat, first in Seattle, and later in Los Angeles, California. 

Charles left The Maxin Trio and Seattle in 1950, first moving to Los Angeles and then going on tour with Blues guitarist and songwriter Lowell Fulson (1921-1999). By 1958, he was touring on his own and headlining venues like the Apollo Theater and Carnegie Hall. In 1959, Charles released his first song to reach the Billboard Hot 100, “What’d I Say.”